Monday, November 30, 2009

In recognition of the Canadiens Centennial next Friday, we at Lions in Winter have been doing what we like best – making lists. As a precursor to publishing the definitive LIW top 100, we will be counting down the decades from least successful to most successful and naming our LIW top 10 players for the ten-year span. You should expect a few each day for the next few days.Though this celebration has inevitably lost some steam due to relentless marketing and pre-game ceremonies for all of living memory, it would be a shame to let it pass unnoticed just because Mr. Gillett wanted to cash in before he cashed out.

1929-1939

Fans from the 1990s and beyond can take some comfort from knowing that the Canadiens weren't always a win away from the Cup. The decade from 1929-39 started like 89-99, full of promise and trophies, but by mid-decade the Canadiens were in up-and-down form and had not yet found their killer instinct that was to com in later years.

There were good finishes like the back-to-back Stanley Cups and some top of the table efforts in the regular season, but this decade finds itself in sixth due to the stiff competition put forward by decades previous and following. On many other teams (Maroons, Rangers) this would have been franchise making results.

Once again, we've selected 10 players from our voting to fit the decade they best represent (no repeats). With 5 decades to come, the star power of the 1930s gives a feel of what awaits.

[Note: Each player only appears in one decade's top 10 – sorry Brisebois fans]

Lynch-pin of the Canadiens defence for the early 1930s Cup dynasty years. Cup-winning captain and coach, Sylvio did it all with the Habs. His 3 Cups (tied with Joliat and Morenz) were a team record until those 1950s came along.

Had big skates to fill and filled them ably. Won the first 3 Vezina trophies with 49 shutouts in 132 games. Amazing to think that 5-0-1 in the playoffs with 3 shutouts and a 0.75 GAA isn't the standout stat of his career.

In recognition of the Canadiens Centennial next Friday, we at Lions in Winter have been doing what we like best – making lists. As a precursor to publishing the definitive LIW top 100, we will be counting down the decades from least successful to most successful and naming our LIW top 10 players for the ten-year span. You should expect a few each day for the next few days.Though this celebration has inevitably lost some steam due to relentless marketing and pre-game ceremonies for all of living memory, it would be a shame to let it pass unnoticed just because Mr. Gillett wanted to cash in before he cashed out.

1909-1919

From humble beginnings, the Canadiens grew over this first decade to be the only club standing in Montreal and a perennial threat for the Stanley Cup championship. They even managed to choose a uniform (more or less) after far too much time at the drawing board.

This first decade, like the 1990s and 1920s only encompasses one Cup victory. But we cut them some slack for those first years where they really never had a chance at winning anyway. To be up and running (and running rivals out of town), competing for the Cup after 4 years, and then winning a championship after only 6 years is quite impressive.

The 10 players from this first decade are quite well known, due to their mythical standing in the Canadiens lore – they all after all helped to kindle this unhealthy obsession with this new game on ice that pervades Montreal 100 years later.

[Note: Each player only appears in one decade's top 10 – sorry Brisebois fans]

Perhaps more famous for his Quebec Bulldogs days, where he led team to Cups. Joe was a solid producer for Montreal in the post-war years, helping the team to capture the NHL title in 1918 and then to the cusp of a second Cup in 1919. Unfortunately, Joe Hall succumbed to pneumonia that was a complication of the flu which led to the cancellation of the finals that year.

In recognition of the Canadiens Centennial next Friday, we at Lions in Winter have been doing what we like best – making lists. As a precursor to publishing the definitive LIW top 100, we will be counting down the decades from least successful to most successful and naming our LIW top 10 players for the ten-year span. You should expect a few each day for the next few days.Though this celebration has inevitably lost some steam due to relentless marketing and pre-game ceremonies for all of living memory, it would be a shame to let it pass unnoticed just because Mr. Gillett wanted to cash in before he cashed out.

1919-1929

It's quite difficult to put each decade into a numbered box (well except for this last one). It seems there have always been loads of positives over each ten year period, and more often than not Stanley Cup finals and victories.

The 1920s are no exception. They started in 1919 from a position of strength, after all they had been poised to possibly win the Stanley Cup before the influenza outbreak led to the cancellation of the competition that year. But the Canadiens of the day didn't use that success as a springboard, but rather spent the next four or five seasons just being better than weaklings Hamilton. A Cup came in the middle of the decade, but it was not until another poor finish in 1926 that a true rebound occurred.

Again, we have 10 players here from our top 100 voting that have been allocated to the 1920s because a) they best represent that era, and b) it best represents their overall exploits.

[Note: Each player only appears in one decade's top 10 – sorry Brisebois fans]

A classy defenceman into the Hall of Fame. The original Bobby Orr, the first Gordie Howe hat-trick and general innovator. Who cares that he only played 16 games for the Canadiens, he behaved like Bobby Orr while he was here...

A pioneer in the art of intimidation. Habs defence was built with some degree of intimidation at that time, and after Joe Hall passed away, Couture was the provider. Also captained the team in his final season.

Smallish big-hitting defenceman. Replacing Sprague Cleghorn as the anchor at the back end, Leduc learned lots in the 1920s and took the Canadiens to their most successful stint to date in the late decade and early 1930s.

A hold-over star from the first decade. His greatest offensive achievements may have been in the 1918-19 playoffs, but his influence and scoring was pivotal in the 1923-24 season that ended in the Habs' second Cup.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

In recognition of the Canadiens Centennial next Friday, we at Lions in Winter have been doing what we like best – making lists. As a precursor to publishing the definitive LIW top 100, we will be counting down the decades from least successful to most successful and naming our LIW top 10 players for the ten-year span. You should expect a few each day for the next few days.Though this celebration has inevitably lost some steam due to relentless marketing and pre-game ceremonies for all of living memory, it would be a shame to let it pass unnoticed just because Mr. Gillett wanted to cash in before he cashed out.

1989-1999

An objective look reveals what we all fear – that we became fans of this team just as its fortunes began to turn. From a Cup final to end the decade previous, these ten years took the team to its lowest in 1999.

There were good years, of course, and a Stanley Cup. But after that amazing run of 1993, the years were not kind to the Canadiens, as they went from perennial contender for league and playoff crowns to being just one of 24 odd teams.

Thanks to the early years, there were good players on the team and good players to trade for other good players. One trade chain (the Richer chain) provided 4 players for our top 10 from the 1990s.

[Note: Each player only appears in one decade's top 10 – so Brisebois fans, hold on to your hats]

He finds himself in the 1990s, but could head the 1980s list. Patrick was the source of most success in this decade – winning most individual honours and taking the team for a nice ride to LA to receive the silverware.